“Instead of using our regular military duffle bags, we can stow our gear in climbing bags.” Viking tilted his chin toward his fellow sniper, Calliope. “Our rifles break down, so we won’t need our rifle bags.”
“Summer’s coming to an end, but weather over there shouldn’t be a factor.” Boone remembered how much they welcomed the end of summer in that region.
“Yeah, and we need to get this thing done before winter sets in.” Lucas propped his ankle on the opposite knee. “Traveling in that area gets pretty hairy once the snow starts coming down.”
“I want you guys to start prepping your gear, and plan to be gone for at least two weeks. I don’t think it’ll take that long, but best to be prepared.” Cole sat back in his chair. “Luna, if at all possible, I’d like to be wheels-up no later than Friday.”
“I’m pretty sure we can make that happen.” She typed something on her laptop. “I’d like you guys to bring your electronic equipment to me, too. I want to check ’em all out, change out batteries, that kindof stuff.”
Boone loved working for OSI. It would take the military months to prepare for an op of this type. It helped that OSI had access to intel and equipment most government agencies would kill for. Best of all, they didn’t have to play by anyone else’s rule book.
“Good idea.” Cole pushed away from the table, stood, and his gaze traveled from one person to the next. “Make sure your affairs are in order.”
With their boss’s ominous final words hanging in the air, they all quietly stood and started to leave the room.
“Is now a good time to bring my stuff to you?” Boone grabbed his cellphone off the table.
“Actually, can you give me about fifteen minutes?” Luna held her laptop to her chest, and they walked hand in hand out of the room and down the hall, where they stopped at the door to the ops center. “I need to have a quick call with Emily, then I should have time.”
“Sounds good.” He cupped her chin with his hand, tilted her face up to him, and kissed her.
Luna wrapped her free arm around his back with her laptop wedged between them. She angled her head and, seemingly unconcerned about anyone seeing them making out in the hallway, she slipped her tongue between his lips. There was a sense of desperation to her kiss that he attributed to his looming departure.
Understanding how she felt, and needing her in a powerful way, Boone was tempted to dive headlong into the kiss. But he was also mindful of the fact that this was not the place for whathe’d like to do with her. So he slowly began nibbling lightly across her lips, then lifted his mouth from hers.
“Why did you stop?” She glanced up and down the hallway and whispered, “There’s no one watching.”
He pressed into her, and the look in his eyes had her scooching back until she was backed against the wall. He flattened his hands on the wall, on either side of her head, essentially blocking her in.
Wide blue eyes turned up to him.
“I stopped because every time you kiss me, all I can think about is you naked, beneath me.” Her quick inhale shot straight to his dick. Boone dragged his lips down the side of her neck and whispered, “And the first time I have you, I’m going to take my time until you’re screaming my name.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Thatshouldn’tsurpriseyou.”Boone pressed his hips against hers, and she felt his erection. “Surely, you’ve noticed the way my body responds to you.”
“Well … I …” No one—no man—had ever spoken to her in such raw, carnal terms. “You say the most outrageous things.”
Luna was nearly overcome by a driving urge to tackle him to the ground and molest him, and her heart was racing so fast, she worried she might be having a heart attack.
“Maybe it seems outrageous because you haven’t been with a man who truly cares about you and values you. You’re smart, beautiful, and incredibly sexy.” With each word, he kissed his way back up her neck.
She tilted her head to give him better access, the arm holding her laptop fell limp at her side, and her eyes drooped shut.
“You think …” Man, he was making it hard to concentrate. “You think I’m sexy?”
The feel of his warm breath brushing over her flesh sent goose bumps roaring across her entire body.
“Fuck, yeah.” He nibbled on her earlobe. “I can’t believe no man has ever told you that before.”
“I’ve only had one boyfriend, and he never talked the way you do.” Being with Boone, arealman, made her realize what a waste of her time Tyler had been. “And we never … well, you know.”
He stopped kissing her neck, drew back his head, and looked at her with surprise.
Heat flooded her cheeks, and doubts crashed through her brain. Had she just made a huge mistake admitting that to him? Would he lose interest in her now?
“You’ve never had sex before?” Unlike Luna, Boone appeared to have zero hangups when it came to conversations of this type. “So, what I’m hearing is that I’ll be your first?”
